It's actually very easy to care for your Aloe Vera plant. It makes a good choice for a houseplant, and you get the added benefit of having pure aloe vera gel at hand!

Many people think aloe vera is a cactus, but it's actually a cousin of the lily and onion family. It has a short stem, with thick spiky green leaves that grow out from the stem like the petals of a rose. It's known as a succulent perennial and usuallly grows to about 2 or 3 foot tall. It is usually found predominantly in hot, dry climates.

The leaves of the aloe vera plant can grow to over a foot long and about 3 inches across. The leaves are thick and fleshy and hold a lot of water, which means the aloe vera plant can survive extended periods of drought. In all, there are roughly 200 species of aloe, although the plant that has come to be cultivated the most is Aloe Barbadensis Miller, also known as aloe vera or literally, 'true aloe'. You'll find it growing across Texas, Mexico and around the Mediterranean.

The good news is that the aloe vera plant is simple to look after, either indoors or outdoors, as long as it won't be exposed to frost or freezing temperatures. The aloe plants love lots of sunshine, so a light-filled window, or sunny part of your garden would be ideal. However, they don't need a lot of water. One of the easiest ways to kill your aloe vera plant is by over-watering. Remember they are desert plants, and can get by with less water than the other plants in your home.

It's quite easy to find aloe vera plants in your area at your local garden center or nursery. Look for a fairly mature plant, and ensure that the pot is adequately drained. You don't want to water it too often, in case the leaves at the bottom of the plant get waterlogged. And allow enough time between watering for the soil to dry out. Some of the smaller aloe vera plants occasionally get white marks on the leaf. This usually fades as the plant matures.

Aloes like to have some room to grow, so do re-pot them as necessary. Expect that a mature aloe vera plant (about 4 years old) maybe about one metre high and 50cm across the widest part of the leaves. But the pot won't have to be that large, because the stem and root system is quite shallow. If the outer leaves start to sag or show their age, they can be sliced off, or gently pulled away from the stem.

As the aloe vera plant matures, it produces offshoots, or 'pups' around the main stem. Although they look very pretty, you should remove these as soon as they get large enough to replant on their own. If you don't they may well suck the life right out of the main plant! Doing this also helps keep the plant growing upwards, rather than outwards. The pups do make lovely presents for family and friends.

Aloe vera plants provide a welcome addition to your home or garden, as well as a focal point. They are hardy, easy to care for, and also give you the benefit of having pure aloe vera gel at hand constantly. If you ever want to use this aloe vera gel, simply remove one of the larger, lower leaves and cut it lengthways to expose the clear inner gel. Then apply this gel to any cut, burn or graze and be amazed at how fast it heals!
About the Author

Jo Johansson enjoys writing and exploring different topics related to natural health and healing. For further information on pure aloe vera products, visit http://AloeandYou.com.